Police, community and calender briefs for May 14, 2013

Published: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 10:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 7:14 p.m.

POLICE BEAT

Man, 23, stabbed multiple times

A 23-year-old man who was stabbed multiple times Sunday night told officers he was jumped from behind and did not see who attacked him.

Jose Torrez called a friend to tell him he had been stabbed. The friend arrived at the scene and found Torrez bleeding heavily and called 911, but refused to give the dispatcher his name, according to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports.

When deputies arrived at 1765 SW 107th Lane, they found Torrez with stab wounds to his back, stomach, sides and armpit area. He was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, reports state. No one in the area of the stabbing reported seeing anything. A cellphone, necklace, car key and 3-inch piece of metal were discovered near where Torrez was found. On Monday, ORMC did not have a condition available on Torrez.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.

Tools worth $4,000 stolen from business

More than $4,000 worth of tools were reported stolen from a business over the weekend.

The items were found missing Sunday at Oswald Aluminum at 7821 W. State Road 40.

According to reports, someone got into the gate of the business and broke into two trucks on the property and took multiple saws and drills, as well as, miscellaneous tools. Investigators found some blood at the scene and took samples for possible DNA analysis. Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.

Cash stolen from Soapy's Car Wash

An undisclosed amount of cash was reported stolen from a safe at a car wash in Ocala.

One of the employees said she was sure she had armed the alarm system, but it was off. Several computers also were turned off, reports note.

Surveillance camera footage caught a grainy image of a man wearing what appeared to be a Soapy's hoodie and gloves in the office at just past 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The camera did not capture a better image because the lights in the office were not turned on, reports state.

Anyone with information can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7001 or Crime Stoppers at 368-7867.

Two home fires cause significant damage

Two homes were badly damaged by fire in separate incidents in the northern part of Marion County on Monday.

The first report came in just before 4 p.m. at a home at 16710 N. County Road 329 near Reddick. When firefighters arrived, they found belching black smoke and fire coming from the roof of the single-story home. Eleven Marion County Fire Rescue units responded to that fire and had it under control by 5:14 p.m., said Jessica Greene, fire rescue spokeswoman. No one was inside the home at the time of the fire. The home received significant damage.

The second fire was reported just after 4:30 p.m. in the Salt Springs area. When firefighters arrived at 13251 NE 251st Terrace, they found a double-wide mobile home 75 percent consumed by fire, Greene said.

Ten units battled the blaze, but the mobile home suffered extensive damage. No one was in the home at the time.

Both fires were reported by neighbors. No one was injured during either fire and no other structures were ever in danger, Greene said.

The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the causes of the fires.

COMMUNITY

Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremony Thursday

The Ocala Police Department and Marion County Sheriff's Office will host a Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at the McPherson Governmental Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 438-2300.

Firearms safety course offered on June 1

Community Technical & Adult Education is offering a four-hour firearms safety course, which meets the requirements for the state of Florida Concealed Weapons application. The class will meet from 8 a.m. to noon on June 1. The minimum age is 21.

The cost is $61, which does not include a fee of $14 for a required background check that must be completed prior to registering for the course.

Students are required to provide their own operational firearm and at least 20 rounds of ammunition to complete the course.

The deadline to register is May 29 at CTAE, 1014 SW Seventh Road, Ocala. The course will be held at an off-site facility. For more information, call 671-4132.

Vendors can apply for work at county parks

Vendors offering food concessions, equipment rentals and more can apply to be a vendor with the Marion County Parks and Recreation Department.

Applications consistent with the department's business plan or master plan will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, which may then make a recommendation for approval by the Marion County Commission. A digital copy of each plan is available at www.marioncountyfl.org/Parks/Pr_Publications.aspx.

Interested vendors must submit a two-page application, available online at www.marioncountyfl.org/parks.htm (click “Concessionaire Application and Permit” link under “Forms” tab) or in person at 111 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.

For more information, contact Gina Peebles, Parks and Recreation director, at 671-8560 or gina.peebles@marioncountyfl.org.

FWC proposal affects importation of deer

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants to hear from deer enthusiasts and those with deer farms or hunting preserves about a proposed rule change that would prohibit the importation of live captive deer into Florida from out of state.

The change is proposed in an effort to reduce the chances of chronic wasting disease being introduced into the state. The contagious neurological disease affects deer, elk and moose. It is always fatal, and there is no known cure or vaccine for the animals. The disease is not known to affect humans.

The rule-change proposal will go before the commission at its June 13 meeting in Lakeland. To learn more or comment, go to MyFWC.com/Deer and select “Captive Cervids.”

If the proposal is passed at the meeting, it would go into effect soon after.